NBA draft: Kings sign first-round pick Nik Stauskas

July 9, 2014

Nik Stauskas / Brad Penner/USA TODAY Sports

Associated Press

SACRAMENTO, CALIF. — The Sacramento Kings have signed first-round pick and last season’s Big Ten player of the year Nik Stauskas to his rookie contract.

Kings general manager Pete D’Alessandro made the announcement late Tuesday night.

Sacramento selected Stauskas out of Michigan with the eighth overall pick in June’s draft. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The 6-foot-6 Stauskas averaged 17.5 points last season on the way to winning top conference honors. He shot 44% from three-point range in two years in college and improved his ball handling and defense considerably in his second season after taking over a major share of the playmaking role with the departure of point guard Trey Burke to the NBA.